Elettra

Elettra (A 5340) is an Italian Navy SIGINT vessel designated as 'Nuova Unità Polivalente di Supporto (NUPS). Designed to carry out research and surveillance activities, the vessel's platform was developed from the RV Alliance built for NATO. Her propulsion system, based on two permanent magnet electric engines, constitutes a technological breakthrough and she is the first surface vessel in the world to be powered by this type of engine. The main characteristics of this propulsion system are: high reliability, high efficiency, low maintenance and low underwater radiated noise